Tuesday 28th April

A ride of the flat kind was organised due to the wet sloppy conditions on the hill.  Phatboy, The Cook and I left my place at 6.15 heading towards a spin around Hagley.  We did not make it as after a quick discussion we headed down Shakespear, onto Waltham, over the bridge, through CPIT down High St through the Square and onto Gloucester and finally into New Regent St.  Stopped at the Instituition for a beer.  3 Beers later and a game of Cards for Humanitites which made us cry with laughter we hopped on the bikes and headed home in our different directions.  Great alternative to riding.

Monday 27th April

After putting Sundays ride off due to rain we all geared up to ride today.  Light drizzle stopped as we all met up outside mine.  Silverfox, The Cook, Bugs, Phatboy, Sandels and I headed off in warm humid conditions at a relaxed pace around the usual route of the river, under the tunnel bridge into ferrymead towpath.  Hooked up with Mellonfarmer at the ferrymead bridge, got rid of extra layers, climbed the steps and started the climb up St Andrews.  Pace was steady and even the quick boys held back for a nice pace up the hill.  Went up Marama onto St Andrews again then onto major Hornbrook stopping at the longridge area for a quick regroup.  Then up the last 2 steeps and along to the start of lower John brittan.  Up we headed at a nice pace, I stayed near the back for a change.  Steady as she goes riding up into the cloud,  Out onto the road and into the Old Greenwood start.  The cattlestop was slippery as but the rest of the track was quite good considering last nights rain.  Regroup just before the ruins and then into the down.  We all thought the rocks would be tough but they were not bad.  Down down down with a little regroup just after gloomy gulch before finishing the rest.  A few dabs around the final rocks by most. Into Ct Thomas.  Enjoying the run down here riding it all no problems then I heard a shout from the Fox, he had punctured and my tyre had gone down at about the same point.  I was lucky and pumped it up leaving the gunk to seal so I headed down. Past Phatbow and mellonfarmer who were waiting then I caught the Cook and Sandels who had gone on ahead and then a good run down the rest at pace.  We regrouped at the bottom, I added another couple of shots of air into my tyre and we all headed off to Dot Com for tea and cake.  mellonfarmer shot through early then the rest of us followed at a leisurely pace.  Phatboy said bye and headed off and then we dropped Sandels and Bugs (who were going back to his place to discuss the heaphy ride).  The Fox, The Cook and I headed on alone.  Dropped the Cook at Radley and separated from the Fox at Aynsley.  Home early.  feeling good.

Thursday 23rd April

Dozer turned up at Bugs place around 6pm so we headed around the river working our way to Rapaki track. Was dark as we started the grind up towards the summit. There was a few others with the same thought and a few heading down. Once at the top we turned left and followed the summit road to Castle Hill. Once there we dropped down the single track from there. Bugs lead with Dozer not to far behind. Once at the summit road again we continued along the road under the gonadal and rock above. Up the road then dropped down onto the single track below the road. This was a little slippy and muddy in places which made the few rocks interesting. Back onto the road and decided to miss Greenwood as it would be muddy and slippy. Down the road to Evans Pass then dropped into Captain Thomas. We had decided to walk the rocky bits as thing's were a little slippy. Bug's lead and rode all the rocky bits except for Petes rock and the climb past that. Dozer cleared most except for one other bit. Down the rest of the track at speed enjoying it under lights. Arrived at the bottom then headed down the road though Sumner and Redcliffs enjoying the tail wind. Stopped at Ferrymead for a quick pint of the good stuff then headed home from there. Great ride with only one small stop and just over 30km. 

Sunday 19th April

Silverfox, Dozer, Phatboy and Tinkerbell meet at Rubberjaws for a 9am start. (Rubberjaws pulling out at the last minute due to a need to stay in close proximity to his throne). So the 4 of us set off and headed up Rapaki, all finding it bit of a struggle today for some reason or another. Phatboy set the pace, followed by Dozer, Tinks and Silverfox bringing up the rear. Once we all regrouped we headed around Mt Vernon and bumped (not literally) into Sandals and Helmut. From there we carried on around to the start of the Traverse. Sandals got a head start, while the rest of us had a quick play on Helmuts Kona fat wheel bike (interesting to say the least). On around the Traverse with a nice tail breeze to help with a good pace around to Thompsons Track. Silverfox punctured on the Traverse, but caught up and we headed down to the Kiwi. Another regroup and headed off towards Worsley. The weather was nice, but a chilling wind helped make our minds up of where to descend from here – the majority decided on Worsleys, so off we went. Down the Bodybag and back up into the forest. We decided to head up higher into the forest for one of the exciting steep downhill tracks (for which I can’t remember what it was called).

We followed Helmut until he punctured (which he tried to convince us that it rarely happens on a fat wheel bike). Phatboy carried on due to time limits, while the rest of us gingerly followed Helmut the rest of the way down hill to eventually pop out at the bottom of Fight Club. Sadly, at the bottom of Fight Club lay a Mt biker from another group, clearly injured and his mates helping him out. As the situation was under control, we kept out of the way while watching the Westpac Trust chopper circle and land to assist the injured chap. We carried on taking the usual tracks out of Worsley and then hit the Farside Track. A rotten tree had fallen across the track, so we all got behind it and cleared it out of the way. A good blast down the rest of Farside and out onto the tarmac around to Protocol (ex Elevate) for a quick pint and some chips. Silverfox, Sandals and Helmut all went their separate ways while Dozer and Tinks headed back to their vehicles at Rubberjaws. A good ride with mild weather for this time of year.

While, the day before, Mellonpharmacist, NelsieMacGyver and SupersonicJet had a play on a quite damp Mt Grey. 

Sunday 12th April

Outside at 9 to see Mellonfarmer and Bugs ready to go and then Dozer arrived.  headed around hansens and then up gruntsbury.  Me tailender with Mellonfamrer and Bugs leading the way.  Good steady grunt all the way.  Pusjhing me a bit really not to drop to far back.  Straight into Vernon to keep from getting cold in the wind.  Caught upto everyone half way down the first leg.  Them all talking to some dude so I did a Marie.  Good bomb down to Rapaki where I was joined shortly by Mellonfarmer.  On the way down i rode off piste to keep out of the way of climbing riders.  Mellonfarmer led off up over Witch Hill.  I dabbed at the messy section and then further round I dabbed.  Let Bugs get past and then followed him out to wait with mellonfarmer in the lee of a rock for a regroup.  On around to the climb up to Castle Rock.  Good run down here although less air in the tyres would of been better.  Past mellonfamer who got a pinch flat again!!!! On around the bluffs to cavendish Saddle and then the grunt up Mt Pleasant.  Down from the top after a short break and then straight into greenwood.  Good run down but once again did not let air out of the tyres. Caught some dude near the 2 rocky grunts.  He pissed around on the first so I waited until he walked the second before showing him how to do it.  We all regrouped before a good fast blast down Ct Thomas.  Then Dot Com for a drink and food.  Long ride home into a steady breeze but it was paced to perfection.  Home by 12.50.  Short rest before I headed off to play Paintball for 1.5 hours.  Slightly stuffed while writing this.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/938996321

Tuesday 7th April

1st dark ride of the year.  Picked up the Cook and headed up to the meeting point at the top of the tarmac on Huntsbury.  Met up with Silverfox, Phatboy, Bugs and finally Mellonfarmer for a 6.22 start.  Headed on up the hill with the group stringing out a bit.  me in my normal after work evening ride mode of tiredness so I was a tad slow.  Still climbed up and eventually got to the top without turning on the lights.  Headed around the Traverse ahead of another posse.  A bit of moisture would be good cos the dust under lights is crap. Quick regroup at the halfway before moving on to the top of Vic.  Good flow for me and i think most of the others.  Down Thompsons where Phatboys main headlight faded out which slowed him slightly later.  Up the road, spread out heaps.  I rode with the Cook all the way to Marleys.  Down the Nun.  Bloody hell, passed Mellonfarmer and Phatboy.  mellonfarmer punctured.  Past Bugs who had punctured and so I stopped to wait.  The Cook arrived first and we waited and waited.  Turns out that Silverfox also punctured.  This means in 2 rides down here we have had the following Phatboy 2 punctures, Silverfox 3 punctures, Bugs 1, Mellonfarmer 1, Dozer 1 not to mention 3 guys who we don't know having punctures.  Anyway enough.  We finally finished the Nun and then headed back the way we came. Silverfox dropped out at the top of Vic. Under Sugarloaf I bumped into a Trees supporter and stopped to chat while the fast 3  carried on without realising. The Cook and I got restarted dropping down towards the landing strip where they were waiting.  Down through the paddocks and back to the vehicles.  All in all a good run.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/932888305

Meanwhile down in BowenVale Valley….

Helmut and Sandals started a gentle warm up ride up the Bowenvale Valley 4WD road towards Hospital corner.  Lovely evening, lots of other walkers and riders out enjoying the last of the autumn.  We turned into the Hidden track, Helmut clearing the creek & uphill pinch with a double amount of rubber gripping the track.  We did OK on the uphill challenge of tight corners and cleaned the 2^nd pine forest section.  Then a bike swap session began.  Mark took the light weight 140 Merida for a little fly, like a pointy feather.  Sandals got her first drive of the double rubber bulldozer absorbing all the exposed rutty rocks like a marshmellow.  Great descent on the Bowenvale bonus/Old Skool track, catching the last of the late evening light and a warm evening.   A bonus ride, short and sweet

Sunday 5th April

Quite a big posse arrived at mine this morning.  Dozer, The Cook, Sandals, Tinkerbell, Silverfox and I headed out along the Heathcote towpath arriving just ahead of Phatboy.  We headed up St Andrews Hill, via the steps and then Marama Cr and onto Major Hornbrook.  Steady pace with a quick breather just before the steep section and the pathways below Upper major hornbrook.  Onto the single track we went with a little regroup at the sharp right hand of Upper john brittain.  Over the fence and then a slog up Broadleaf Lane, onto the shitty shingle before another quick regroup.  I led off done towards the  Col between Mt Pleasant and Gondola.  Good blast and I still had a skid in the last section just before the fence.  regrouped and then under the bluffs before we headed straight into the climb upto castle rock. Some good riding put in up here.  I myself dabbed on the hairpins but cleaned the rest.  Down and over witch Hill before climbing around Mt Vernon.  Sandals got a jump on us (forever to be known as "Doing a Marie".This was the toughest it has ever been for me.  Then I led off (Yes I did a Marie) around the Traverse before dropping down to the landing strip.  From here it was full steam ahead down to Old Skool single Track.  Phatboy led and I chased with everyone flowing nicely.  At the bottom Phatboy and I took the sketchy line cleaning all but the last 3 feet.  Then we headed around to Elevate to find it has changed to The protocol for a beer and chips.  Phatboy and Silverfox headed off before then.  great ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/930112991

The next day, Mellonfarmer, who was off farming mellons at his Little Akaloa mellon farm, fattied up View Hill to the top for the view...

Friday 3rd April

The Cook and I hooked up and rode from mine.  Both oif us are a bit out of shape and wanted to get back into things easy.  We rode around hansens park before starting the climb up Ramahana, Aotea then Huntsbury.  This was hard considering lack of fitness and increased fatness.  Up the farm track to the top before swinging lefty around vernon Track. Nice flow along here and then we regrouped at the top of rapaki.  Over witch Hill then climbed up to the top before heading down Castle rock Track.  I had a good run down here flowing nicely.  Regrouped and then around the road under the gondala Bluffs.  never done this since they opened it up.  Intimidating is what I think.  Up to John Brittan track.  Only doing a short ride we did the top section then headed left to the lower section and then down the roads that we normally come up.  Took the technical path through the park then down Cannon Hill before finding our way down some steep mother of a road to the bottom of the road.  Rode around under St Andrews Hill road and then along the towpath behind ferrymead.  All nicely trimmed up now.  Kept meeting people on every blind corner.  Home by 12.  2 hours riding time.

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/927603567

Tuesday 31st March

Bugs turned up at the bottom of Worsleys road to fine Dozer and Helmet waiting. We took car car to the end of the road where we had trouble finding a park due to many others biking there as well. Helmet had a Fat Bike which he had brought down from up North. Up we headed with Helmet having some small issues getting his tyre pressure right. Decided on heading up the rutted 4WD track so he could see how his fat bike went. We all had the odd issue but managed to make it to the bottom of the Body Bag. Turned right and headed into the forest. Headed up and up to Deb's Kitchen?? which starts off nice but gets steeper the further down we go. Towards the bottom Bug's and Dozer were sliding down on there asses while Helmet was riding most. Back up the road then cut up the steep 4WD track though the middle. Headed up to the rocky clearing where we split. Helmet headed down Moose Knuckle which has a nice sign.

Bug's n Dozer headed down Fight Club. We used lights for this run as it was getting dark in the forest. Meet Helmet at the bottom who found his track steep and humpy. Back up the 4WD track then turned right and headed down though the rest of the forest. Helmet drove the car down while the others rode the road with lights till the Far Side tracks. Dropped into these clearing it all then down the road to the cars. Called in for a quick beer at The Brick Works and home by 9pm.